Brad Pitt’s Shocking Favourite Actor Revealed – And It’s Not Who You’d Expect

Brad Pitt, one of Hollywood’s enduring icons, has spent decades navigating the complexities of fame, talent, and image. Rising to global prominence as a heartthrob, Pitt has consistently fought against the “sex symbol” label, carving out a career marked by stellar performances in films like Fight Club, The Tree of Life, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Yet when it comes to naming the actor he admires most, Pitt’s choice is as thoughtful and unexpected as his career path.

In a candid interview preserved in the Brad Pitt Press Archive, Pitt revealed that his favorite actor of all time isn’t one of Hollywood’s traditional leading men or glamorous figures. Instead, he named two-time Academy Award winner Dianne Wiest, praising her ability to transcend superficial beauty standards in an industry often obsessed with appearances.

“I’ll tell you who my favorite actress is: Dianne Wiest,” Pitt said. “And you wouldn’t call her a sex symbol. Dianne Wiest is, to me, the most beautiful woman on the screen.”

Known for her unforgettable roles in films like Woody Allen’s Hannah and Her Sisters and Bullets Over Broadway, Wiest built her career on emotional depth, vulnerability, and authenticity—qualities that resonated deeply with Pitt. In discussing the relationship between beauty and acting, Pitt remarked: “When you see a person, do you just concentrate on their looks? It’s just a first impression. Then there’s someone who doesn’t catch your eye immediately, but you talk to them, and they become the most beautiful thing in the world.”

Pitt’s admiration for Wiest reflects a broader philosophy about his profession: that true greatness in acting stems not from surface allure but from an actor’s ability to reveal humanity and complexity. It’s a perspective shaped, in part, by his own struggles to move beyond his early reputation as a pretty face.

While Pitt has often been compared to classic Hollywood legends like James Dean, he’s distanced himself from many of those comparisons, preferring to forge his own identity rooted in substance rather than myth. His admiration for figures like Robert Redford—another actor who balanced rugged charm with moral gravity—further underscores his appreciation for those who stood for more than just their looks.

Today, even as Pitt hints at stepping back from acting to focus more on producing, his reverence for actors like Wiest serves as a testament to the depth of his artistic values. In an industry often obsessed with image, Pitt’s choice reminds us that the true beauty of a performance lies not in appearances, but in authenticity—and that, perhaps, is why he remains a star worth admiring.